Dear Residents,

The City of Highland Park is on track to reopen. The City's reopening plans will stay in-line with Governor Whitmer's plans opening on June 15, 2020.
All residents should continue to abide by necessary guidance by our governor, including physically distancing and wearing a face covering; limiting non-business, social gatherings to 10 persons; staying at home if you feel ill or have come into contact with someone with COVID-19, and getting tested if you have symptoms. The City of Highland Park services that had been closed to the public, including parks and facilities, will begin reopening on Friday, June 12, 2020, unless extended by Governor Whitmer.

We have made significant strides. The level of police misconduct litigation is down. There is a substantial reduction in the number of lawsuits filed against the City. The City was sued in the case of Angela Johnson v. City of Highland Park et al. and was recently dismissed from the lawsuit. My administration has assisted the 30th District Court Judge Brigette Officer-Holley with the Amnesty Program, which allows for the waiver of outstanding fees and penalties. The program was so successful it has been extended to June 15, 2020. We are prosecuting cases through the use of Zoom Video Conferencing.

We are delighted that the Mayor's Budget Amendment awarded $5000 to the three (3) City Council Districts, and was successful in obtaining a raise for employees in the Department of Public Works.

Human Resources completed COVID-19 testing of all First Responders and City Hall employees. We are in the process of collecting the data from everyone. Although this is voluntary, we are hoping everyone will respond positively. We are also in the process of working with DPW to get the buildings ready for reopening. The new HR Director has hit the ground running, so please excuse her while she gets acclimated. We are currently working on putting some processes in place to create smoother transitions.

Our Recreation Center has confirmed to serve Summer Lunches, beginning July 6, 2020, through August 21, 2020. Monday – Thursday from 11 am – 1 pm. Service provided for Youth 18 and under

Please continue to stay safe.

The Honorable Mayor Hubert Yopp~

Click Here for COVID-19 Case Updates.

Resources

LOCAL STATES ON COVID-19 - Wayne County/ Highland Park Cases

New Programs Announced by Governor Whitmer

Click here for the State of Michigan Updates

SBA Loans & Grants Due to the Coronavirus

BE COUNTED HIGHLAND PARK! ITS NOT TO LATE!   Click Here to Start Questionnaire NOW!  The 2020 Census is underway and the most important thing you can do is respond online, by phone, or by mail when you receive your invitation. Responding now will minimize the need for the Census Bureau to send census takers out into communities to follow up. Please help Highland Park by helping a neighbor, a senior or any hard to count individual by calling them on the phone or through social media. Everyone needs to be counted.

• • All Senior Buildings will continue to receive breakfast and lunch every Wednesday until further notice.
  • Please contact your senior coordinator, Ms. Perkins, at (313) 974-9902 for emergency food needs.
  • A special thanks to Rayven Davis, at people's community, for sharing her congregate meal program, to our private home seniors.
  • Kroger gift cards for Highland Park Seniors 60 and older, These gifts cards will be mailed directly from the Hannan House. Hopefully, we will get the third round! 

  GOD BLESS OUR COMMUNITY AND KEEP SAFE.

  SENIOR COORDINATOR

  MS. CATHY PERKINS

  (313) 974-9902

Please find below an update of activities taking place between

(6/8/2020 thru 6/14/2020)

WATER DEPARTMENT

• The City of Highland Park Water Department would like to take this time to show our gratitude and thanks to all the Customers who continue to make payments and stay current on their accounts during this crisis.
• Please be advised that the Highland Park Water Department Customer Service Center will be CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. If any residents should have any questions or concerns, please direct calls to the City of Highland Park Water Department at (313) 865-1876 to leave a message or emailhpwaterdepartment@metroca.net. Customers are encouraged to continue to utilize our online payment option or the dropbox (no cash please) to make payments during the shutdown. We apologize for the inconvenience.
• Wayne Metro continues to offer financial assistance as needed to customers. If any Residents are interested and want to know more information, please call 313-388-9799 or visit www.waynemetro.org.
• Any Customer that received a notice on your door regarding your water service last week asked to contact the Water Department at (313)-865-1876 and leave a message with contact information for our staff to contact you.
• If any customer received pitchers or faucet filters during the distribution period in July 2019, please contact the Customer Service Center via phone (313-865-1876) or email hpwaterdepartment@metroca.net to make arrangements on obtaining your filter refill cartridges.
• The National League of Cities (NLC) is offering Highland Park residents “homeowner repair protection for leaking, clogged or broken water and sewer lines from the point of utility connection to the home exterior.” If you would like more information, please visit www.slwofa.com or call the NLC at 1-866-922-9006.
• The Customer Service Center would like to remind all customers that Payments can also be made online athttps://highlandparkmi.gov/Services/Water.aspx by clicking on the link “View and Pay your Bill online.” Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Customer Service Center at 313-865-1876.
• The Customer Service Center would like for residents to be aware they have a monthly drainage/stormwater bill that generates for each parcel they own, even without active water usage. If residents have questions, they can call the Customer Service Center at 313-865-1876 to review their account/s.
• Another available Source for residents interested in receiving water bill assistance is with Detroit Water Project. Any resident concerned should apply online at www.Detroitwaterproject.org.

Work Activity:

• City Water Department to perform emergency repairs as necessary.
  • City Water Department to continue with the Emergency Water Restoration Initiative and Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-28. All residence schedule to have repairs have and will be contacted.
  • City to perform lead and copper compliance testing in various locations in the town. Residents impacted during this testing period have and will be contacted. 
  • City to perform emergency sewer repair along the alley of Massachusetts between Woodward Avenue and John R Street.

CITY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

• Ongoing acceptance and processing of right-of-way and site plan permits
• Documentation of all construction-related activity from contractors and utility companies within the city

Contractor Activity

• AT&T onsite near 2nd Avenue and Louise performing maintenance on services lines and final restoration.
• AT&T onsite along Oakland Avenue south of Davison Freeway performing maintenance on service lines and completing any necessary restoration.
• Site Development for Mobis Development and Faurecia Developments both located along Oakland Park Blvd. the work consists of building improvements and new building, site utility installations, site pavement improvement, and landscaping.  

If any residents should have any questions or concerns, please direct calls to the City of Highland Park Water Department at (313) 865-1876.

The Fire Department has been passing out food throughout the City of Highland Park. Thank you, Chief Kevin Coney! 

MICHIGAN SOARS

In this week’s MEDC update Michigan has moved up 19 places to rank in the top 20 places to do business in Chief Executive Magazine’s annual review.  See below for details.

Michigan soars 19 spots in national ranking: Michigan has jumped 19 places as a top state to do business in Chief Executive magazine’s 16^th annual Best & Worst States for Business survey, released this week. Coming in this year at No. 13 on the list, Michigan now claims the biggest single-year move in the ranking’s history. According to Chief Executive, CEOs who selected Michigan as the best state for doing business cited a number of factors for their selection, including workforce, regulatory environment and overall favorable business conditions, and growth in the manufacturing sector.

In addition to the survey results, Chief Executive highlighted the state in an article about How Michigan Keeps Advancing. Featuring an interview with MEDC Executive Vice President and Chief Business Development Officer Josh Hundt, the article highlights the state’s engineering and manufacturing advantages, economic diversification, and the PlanetM Landing Zone.  

SENIOR RESOURCES CONTACT YOUR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT REP

Carlton D. Clyburn Jr., City Council President / Mayor Pro -Tem /District 1 

City Phone - 313-252-0050 Ext. 396 / Direct: 313-378-3749 

Email: clyburn@highlandparkmi.gov 

Kendrich Bates, City Council / District 2

City Phone - 313-252-0050 Ext. 398 / Direct:  313-378-3594

Email: kbates@highlandparkmi.gov 

Derrick Armstrong, City Council / District 3 

City Phone - 313-252-0050 Ext. 395 / Direct:  313-378-4458

Email: darmstrong@highlandparkmi.gov 

Special Links

For the Small Business Association’s (SBA) homepage, click here.

For SBA’s Coronavirus Relief options, click here.

 For the First Independence Bank’s website, click here.

For the Detroit CDFI Coalition’s website, click here.

For Senator Gary Peters’ website, click here.  

Stay-Home Order Extends to May 15, Lifts Restrictions on Certain Businesses and Activities

Additional Resources Available Online

Access additional resources by visiting michiganbusiness.org/covid19.

Visit michigan.gov/coronavirus to find valuable resources for employers, workers, residents and communities and stay informed on Michigan’s latest efforts to mitigate the impact of the virus on our state’s residents and economy.

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus and https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

TCF Small Business Relief Loan Fund

https://www.tcfbank.com/waynecounty

COVID-19 INFORMATION FOR MICHIGAN WIC FAMILIES

COVID-19 INFORMATION FOR MICHIGAN WIC FAMILIES

The safety and health of your family is WIC’s top priority during the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). To protect all families and staff, your local WIC clinic may be closed, may have changed its hours or may be providing remote assistance.

If you have a scheduled WIC appointment and have not yet been contacted by WIC staff, please call ahead of your appointment to make sure the clinic is open.

To find your local WIC clinic, you may:

• Call or visit 211.

• Download the WIC Connect mobile app (available for Android and iPhone).

• Visit the Michigan WIC Client Connect online portal.

• Visit the Michigan WIC Directory.

  What if my WIC clinic is closed? Will I still be able to use my benefits?

  Yes. In many cases, if you are a current WIC client, benefits may be added to your WIC EBT card remotely.

  If your current WIC clinic is unable to serve you, you may contact a different WIC clinic in your area.

  What if I can’t reach anyone at my local WIC clinic?

  Please call the Michigan WIC Division at 1-800-942-1636. Select option 1, then option 2 to speak with a WIC staff person.

  What if my usual grocery store is out of my WIC foods or infant formula?

  As of April 1, Michigan WIC families now have more choices at the store.
  If you can’t find your WIC foods at your regular grocery store, please use the WIC Connect

  mobile app or Michigan WIC Client Connect to find another WIC grocery store nearby.
  If you cannot find your WIC infant formula in grocery stores, please contact your local WIC clinic

  and ask for help. It is not safe to make your own infant formula at home.

  To submit a vendor complaint, please email MDHHS-WICVendor@michigan.gov with the food item(s) that you were not able to find, as well as the name and location of the store.

Support Highland Park Small Businesses!

Attention Residents

The City of Highland Park has the following measures in place to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus: 

1. Upcoming regularly scheduled meetings for the City of Highland Park may be conducted virtually (online and/or by phone), due to health concerns surrounding Coronavirus/COVID-19 under the Governor of Michigan’s Executive Orders 2020-15 and 2020-21. You can also watch these meetings on the City's Facebook Page at facebook.com/Thecityofhighlandpark/
2. City Hall will remain closed until June 12, 2020, however; it will continue to service the public, The Department of Public Works and the Fire Station will be restricted to scheduled meetings only. The public is encouraged to contact any department requiring assistance via phone or email. 
3. The 30th District Court continues to perform all essential and necessary functions during the close of Highland Park City Hall due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The court is not accessible to the general public and is only conducting emergency hearings at this time. You may continue to contact the court at (313) 252-0300 or go to the City of Highland Park's website at http:WWW.HighlandParkMi.gov 
4. Visit www.highlandparkmi.gov/Services/Administration.aspx to view a list of departmental contact numbers for services needed.
5. The Highland Park Recreation Center is closed to the public and all programs are canceled. City staff will be available via phone or email to assist you.

Our Local Schools AT WORK FOR YOU!

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